Cicadas (蟬)
声たてていかに鳴くらんうつせみの我が身からとは思ひしらずや
koe tatete
ika ni nakuran
utsusemi no
wa ga mi kara to wa
omoishirazu ya | Raising up their voices
How they seem to sing!
An abandoned, cicada-shell
Am I – empty!
Are they all ignorant of that? |
Daishin
Summer Hunting (夏猟)
つねならぬかりのこの世はせこがいるなつのの刈の心ちこそすれ
tsune naranu
kari no kono yo wa
seko ga iru
natsuno no kari no
kokochi koso sure | So fleeting is
This transient world, where
My man does shoot;
As a summer plain reaped down
Is how I truly feel! |
Daishin
Summer Insects (夏虫)
なにごとをいとかくばかり夏虫のおもひあまりて身をこがすらん
nanigoto o
ito kaku bakari
natsumushi no
omoiamarite
mi o kogasuran | What is it that
So simply
The summer insects
Does drive to desperation, and
Seem to set their flesh to smouldering? |
Daishin
Avoiding Heat (避暑)
夏くればふせやが下にやすらひてし水のさとにすみつきぬべし
natsu kureba
fuseya ga shita ni
yasuraite
shimizu no sato ni
sumitsukinubeshi | When summer’s come
Beneath a crude hut’s roof
Do I take my ease, and
In spring waters at the estate
Must I make my home! |
Daishin
Shade beneath the Trees (樹陰)
あづさ弓まだ行末ははるけきにけふも木かげに日をくらしつつ
azusayumi
mada yukusue wa
harukeki ni
kyō mo kokage ni
hi o kurashitsutsu | A catalpa bow:
The future yet lies
Far away, but
Today, too, within trees’ shade
Shall I spend the entire day… |
Daishin
Fans (扇)
てなれけるぬしはしらねどむらさきの扇の風のなつかしきかな
tenarekeru
nushi wa shiranedo
murasaki no
ōgi no kaze no
natsukashiki kana | Its skilful
Master remains ignorant, yet
That violet
Fan’s breeze
Is dear to me, indeed! |
Daishin
Pinks (瞿麦)
よそふるも猶なつかしみみるごとにあはれつきせぬなでしこのはな
yosōru mo
nao natsukashimi
miru goto ni
aware tsukisenu
nadeshiko no hana | Their array is
Still so dear –
Every time I see them
I am moved beyond all measure:
The pinks in flower. |
Daishin
Summer Garb (夏衣)
いつしかと花のたもとをぬぎかへてうすき衣のうらめしきかな
itsushika to
hana no tamoto o
nugikaete
usuki koromo no
urameshiki kana | Suddenly,
Blossom laden sleeves have
I removed and changed for
Gossamer garb –
How I do despise it! |
Daishin
Lingering Warblers (残鶯)
なぐさむるかたやなからん花もちり春もくれゆく鶯のこゑ
nagusamuru
kata ya nakaran
hana mo chiri
haru mo kureyuku
uguisu no koe | Consolation
Nowhere will I find, it seems;
The blossoms all are fallen, and
Spring draws in to dusk with
A warbler’s song. |
Daishin
Pheasants (雉)
すずの音やちかくなるらんみかりのにかくろへかねてききす鳴くなり
suzu no ne ya
chikakunaruran
mikarino ni
kakuroekanete
kigisu nakunari | Do the harness bells
Seem to draw near?
In the imperial hunting grounds
Unable to conceal himself
A pheasant is a’crying. |
Daishin
'Simply moving and elegant'